Rowan women’s soccer continues to mow down competition, now 8-0

There is a saying about an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object and what will happen when the two meet. So far this season, the Rowan women’s soccer team has been that force, but they have not yet met the object.

The team continues to remain perfect with a record of 8-0. In addition to the record, the brown and gold have a perfect goals against average of zero as they approach New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play.

With a 2-0 win over Moravian College and a close 1-0 win over Virginia Wesleyan College that was decided with a penalty shot, the Profs are a strong unit moving forward.

“I think we are finally starting to put together 90 minutes,” head coach Scott Leacott said. “You can see we sub a lot and we wear [other teams] down a little bit. To win in this game it is a team effort, it is not about one or two players. The girls who score get the credit but it takes all of the players.”

So far this year, all of the players are getting in on the goal scoring.

The brown and gold have scored a total of 38 goals through eight games. Those goals have come from 11 different players, with seven players registering at least three goals.

Transfer junior Shannon Reardigan is averaging just under a goal per game and leads the team with seven scores and five assists. Senior forward Maxine New is right behind with six goals and three assists, while juniors Melissa Kelly and Lauren Coletti have five and four, respectively.

But as the cliché goes, defense wins championships.

Leacott knows this, and mentioned that the defensive backs and the goalkeepers have yet to let in a single goal. The Profs defense has also limited opportunities for set plays by allowing only five corner kicks so far this season. The 1-0 win over Virginia Wesleyan was a defensive battle where the Profs were outshot, 13-7. Sophomore goalkeeper Shelby Money had seven saves, which is half of the amount she has for the season.

“Our subs are trying to come out with lots of intensity every time we get put into the game. We are still working to bring that intensity,” Reardigan said. “We are fueled and ready to go off the bench. If we are up two [to] nothing, three [to] nothing we just need to play it smart. We just need to play smart [no matter the score.]”

The brown and gold as a whole did just that in their most recent win, a 5-0 victory over NJAC opponent New Jersey City University. The win gives the Profs there first in conference play.

Rowan next plays at William Paterson on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m.

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